Think You Can Live Fossil Fuel Free?Take the Challenge

Sounds easy, right? Then pledge to live fossil fuel free
for a week and see what it's really like.

Are you willing to take the challenge?

What's That You Say?

It's not that easy - fossil fuels are everywhere!
Here are common items to avoid if you really want to take
the Challenge.

Day 1

“I'll just ride my bike instead of
driving.”

Great! But you're riding on rubber tires and other
components
manufactured from crude oil and natural gas such as
the brake pads,
seat, and pedals. Guess they'll have to walk.

Day 2

“I'll just stay home and text and video chat
friends.”

Your smartphone may be modern, but it's like a
handheld dinosaur
with so many fossil fuel parts inside it. The
screen, board, microchip,
and cover are just a few. Plus, it's powered by
electricity generated
from natural gas or coal. Try smoke signals
instead.

Day 4

Since you can only walk to work, what are you
wearing to cope with the weather?

Whether it’s a hot day that calls for clothes
that wick away sweat,
or a cool fall morning that requires a fleece, your
wardrobe is stitched
together by synthetic fibers derived from petroleum.
Even most cotton
shirts are a blend with lycra or other modern
fibers. Thought about a
fig leaf instead?

Day 5

“There doesn't seem to be much I can do, so
I'll just chill and have a drink.”

Happy hour may be near, but without fossil fuels it
doesn’t matter
how good the hops and malted barley are, you still
don't have beer. You
need heat and electricity for fermenting and
bottling. And beer trucks
don't run on sunshine and wind.*

* Electric vehicles, wind turbines and
solar panels don’t exist without oil, natural gas and mined components.
Plus, since they’re intermittent sources of energy, wind and solar are
backed up by natural gas and coal power at night and when the wind
doesn’t blow.